TheJohn MaythamShow

Should religion be kept out of our schools or is there a place for religion as long as schools have careful policy guidelines asks radio host Eusebius McKaiser?

Joining McKaiser for the discussion was Hans Pietersen, Chairperson of Organization for Religious Education and Democracy (Ogod), and Paul Colditz, CEO of The Federation of Governing bodies of South African schools (Fedsas).

Colditz believes If a school is a Christian school then the school has the parents’ consent to practice their Christianity in the school freely.

Parents need to inform the school in advance if they are opposed to their children adhering to the school’s religious policy. Fedsas argues that Ogod wants to remove all religions from schools which will violate the right to religious freedom.

Pietersen says there is no room for a religious biased school.

If the school follows Christianity then they must also incorporate other religious principles on the same level. For example; they should allow a Muslim child to go do her prayers and wear her headscarf and have an open platform for other children to join in if they choose to do so.

— Hans Pietersen the Chairperson of Organization for Religious Education and Democracy (OGOD)